Where do the tastiest leftovers come from?

The lean economy is having people take a second look at the leavings on their plate.

No longer are restaurant meal leftovers, dubbed “doggie bag” since the food made the vehicle ride home to be fed to Fido, considered expendable. Those leftovers, the uneaten edible remains of a meal, are looking more and more attractive as a next day lunch alternative.

The reasons diners don’t finish a dinner meal with a clean plate is varied. Lunch could have been large, too many pre-dinner appetizers, unlimited bread or tortilla chips, or the portion size may be too monumental for just one person.

Whatever the reason, doggie bags are more common than one might think.

The ultimate fate of the leftovers, now bundled up to-go, rests in the hands of the diner.

First, they have to actually make it home and get into the refrigerator – not left on the restaurant table, somewhere en route to home or forgotten in the car for a day or two.

Once in the refrigerator it is equally important to actually use them, not let them creep to the back to become a science project teeming with gray-green mold and perhaps being the source of that unidentifiable odd smell.

It is best to eat leftovers within four days, or freeze them immediately, to reduce the risk of food poisoning, according to health experts.

Some leftovers can be eaten cold from the refrigerator, others may be reheated in the oven or microwave. Creative home cooks mix in additional ingredients and viola a new dish is born. These inventions are best suited for casseroles, fried rice, pizza and paella.

Where have you gotten the tastiest leftovers? How did you prepare them once at home?

Sorelli Pizza in Mountlake Terrace.

Dustin, Mountlake Terrace

Teriyaki Wok in Everett! Great food and there’s more than enough for two meals.

Lyn, Everett

Azteca’s Spanish rice and chicken taquitos taste phenomenal the next day.

Kate, Mukilteo

Claim Jumper.

NaShea, Edmonds

Pizza always tastes better the next day, especially Papa John’s with the butter sauce.

Michael, Mukilteo

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